Study: Everyday chemicals that may increase breast cancer risk

Gasoline and chemicals formed by combustion from vehicles, lawn equipment, smoking and charred food are among the largest sources of mammary carcinogens in the environment.

Ruthann A. Rudel, Janet M. Ackerman and Julia Green Brody of the Silent Spring Institute and Kathleen R. Attfield of Harvard School of Public Health identified the highest priority chemicals to target for breast cancer prevention.

"Every woman in America has been exposed to chemicals that may increase her risk of getting breast cancer. Unfortunately, the link between toxic chemicals and breast cancer has largely been ignored," study author Julia Brody, executive director at Silent Spring Institute, said in a statement.

"Reducing chemical exposures could save many, many women's lives. When you talk to people about breast cancer prevention, chemical exposure often isn't even on their radar. Studies that address toxic chemical exposure account for just a drop in the bucket of money spent on breast cancer."